REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has begun operating a luxury sleeper train in which passengers could immediately unwind. While flagging off the departure of the sleeper train at Gambir Railway Station on Tuesday, KAI Director Edi Sukomoro stated that the luxury train will commence official operations sometime in future, but it is currently being used to transport Eid al-Fitr or Lebaran travelers to gauge the interest of passengers.
"I am now flagging off the sleeper train that is departing from Jakarta to Surabaya as a market test to evaluate the public interest," he noted in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Sukmoro revealed that passengers for the next one month will still be charged a promotional price at Rp900 thousand, and one train only has 18 seats. "We also provide all facilities in the form of free meals, television facilities, and charger. We are only running four trains," he stated.
He said if the market demand increases, the routes and traveling frequencies will be increased, including for the South Line. "If this is indeed the demand, the South Line will be included in the routes to be served," he stated.
Thus, Sukmoro will also add an additional train if the trip is included. "To be certain, I want to say, this train is locally produced by Inka, so it would not be difficult to order," he said.
Currently, the number of sleeper trains to be operated is four out of the 438 trains being ordered by KAI.
Sukmoro noted that the sleeper train is being operated in line with the community demand in addition to making innovations by KAI in its efforts to improve services.
"With this luxury class service, people will have more choices of classes to travel in accordance with the tariff and service," he added.